International News
Trump’s back-and-forth on tariffs creates uncertainty, drives surge in gold prices
Gold price rebounds toward record highs of $3,246 after the previous pullback. Trump’s back-and-forth on tariffs creates uncertainty, underpinning Gold’s safe-haven appeal.Gold remains poised for a fresh leg higher on bullish technical setup on the daily chart.Gold price is bouncing back toward the record highs of $3,246 set on Monday as buyers fight back control despite a sense of calm across the financial markets early Tuesday.
This resurgence comes despite relative calm in broader financial markets, and it underscores the enduring appeal of gold as a safe-haven asset amid political and economic turbulence. Central to this dynamic is the evolving and often erratic trade policy rhetoric emanating from the United States, particularly from former President Donald Trump. As markets struggle to interpret shifting stances on tariffs and brace for consequential economic data, gold appears poised to continue its upward trajectory, supported by both technical and fundamental factors.
The reemergence of gold’s bullish momentum occurs against a backdrop of a moderating U.S. bond market. Last week’s surge in Treasury yields—a swift 50 basis point increase—has partially reversed, with the benchmark 10-year yield falling by approximately 10 basis points. This stabilization has provided a brief respite for investors, many of whom are digesting not only earnings reports from major U.S. corporations but also the ongoing ambiguity surrounding American trade policy.
Trump’s recent comments on adjusting the 25% tariffs on auto and auto parts imports from key partners such as Mexico and Canada have injected fresh uncertainty into the market. His administration’s exemptions for certain technology products, like smartphones and laptops, only added complexity, especially as these items remain subject to less severe 20% tariffs rather than the previously discussed 145% rate. Trump’s mention of impending tariff decisions on semiconductors further adds to the volatility.
Such unpredictability has clear implications for investor sentiment, which in turn sustains the allure of gold. As a non-yielding asset traditionally viewed as a hedge against economic instability, gold thrives during periods when policy inconsistency undermines market confidence. Moreover, the anticipation of further dovish shifts by the Federal Reserve amplifies this dynamic. Remarks from Fed Governor Christopher Waller this week highlighted the economic strain caused by tariff policies, suggesting that rate cuts might be necessary even in the face of persistent inflation. While some voices, like Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic, urge a wait-and-see approach, markets are pricing in substantial rate reductions—approximately 85 basis points by year’s end—with high confidence that rates will remain unchanged at the Fed’s next meeting in May.
Beyond the U.S., global factors are also reinforcing the upward pressure on gold prices. Chinese investors have significantly increased their holdings in physically backed gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in April, a trend confirmed by the World Gold Council. This inflow reflects both domestic economic concerns and a broader global appetite for risk hedging, particularly as China prepares to release its first-quarter GDP data. Monday’s announcement from China Customs, revealing a 12.4% year-over-year surge in exports for March, underscores the urgency with which Chinese exporters have responded to looming U.S. tariff hikes.
As gold continues its climb, technical indicators on the daily chart support the potential for further gains. Yet, this ascent remains contingent on several evolving narratives: Trump’s tariff proclamations, the Fed’s policy responses, and the tone of incoming macroeconomic data from China and beyond. In this complex and fluid environment, gold retains its timeless luster—not merely as a commodity, but as a barometer of global uncertainty.
International News
Payrolls Shock Reshapes Fed Bets, Sends Bullion Sharply Higher AUGMONT BULLION REPORT
Bullion’s Strongest Week: Gold Up 6.6% To ~$4,350; Silver Surges Nearly 7% To $65.05
Bullion had one of its strongest weeks of the year. Spot gold climbed roughly 6.6% to settle near $4,350/oz, with COMEX December futures touching an intraday high above $4,410 before easing into the close. Silver outperformed on a percentage basis, with spot prices vaulting from the high-$50s to an intraday peak of $65.05/oz, a gain of nearly 7%.
The U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, the Labor Department said, compared with economists’ expectations for an increase of 80,000 jobs, according to a Reuters poll. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1% even as the labor participation rate dropped to a near five-and-a-half-year low of 61.4%. Few expected non-farm payrolls to turn negative, or that June’s numbers would see such a steep downward revision.
The market has likely pushed the expected Fed hike from September to October or December, Wizman said, noting that weak labor data tends to delay rate-hike expectations rather than accelerate them. ADP’s weekly employment data had already pointed to a hiring slowdown earlier in the week, setting up the payrolls shock. With CPI, PPI, and University of Michigan inflation expectations due shortly, markets remain highly sensitive to incoming data, and positioning into next week is expected to stay volatile. Fed funds futures traders are now pricing in 44% odds of a rate hike at the September meeting, down from 55% before the data.
Safe-haven flows got extra support from unresolved tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Reports suggested Iran and Oman were negotiating an arrangement to ease shipping disruptions, though no final agreement was confirmed, and crude oil pulled back from recent highs on partial de-escalation optimism. Without a durable resolution, a geopolitical risk premium stayed embedded in both gold and silver through the week, while a coordinated US-Japan currency intervention to steady the yen added another layer of cross-asset volatility that spilled into precious metals positioning.
Domestic sentiment stayed constructive heading into the festive and wedding season window that opens in August. Feedback from recent trade events pointed to improved restocking by jewellers, though record rupee prices continue to push consumers toward lighter-weight, lower-carat pieces and value-conscious purchases. Investment demand through coins, bars, and gold ETFs continued to outpace jewellery offtake, in line with the broader shift in Indian consumer behavior toward gold as a financial-security instrument rather than a purely occasion-led purchase.
With US CPI, PPI, jobless claims, and Michigan sentiment data on the calendar, volatility is likely to stay elevated. Gold holding above the $4,200–4,350 zone will be key to sustaining the advance toward record territory, while silver’s move above $63 keeps the door open for a retest of the January highs if the dollar stays under pressure.
Gold and silver appear to have formed a base and broken out after a month-long consolidation, so a 4–5% upside move looks likely this week. On MCX, Rs 1,40,000 is the immediate support band for gold, with silver support near Rs 2,15,000–2,20,000. A confirmed Fed dovish pivot, alongside any durable Strait of Hormuz resolution, will be the swing factors for direction into the following week.
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